Switch – PCI Express Ethernet Switch : what’s the point

networkingpci-expressswitch

Switch

  • How is this kind of card used ?
  • Is it used to make a computer used as a real switch ?
  • Or does it just bring 4 NICs ?

I want to use a server as router (need 4 NICs) can I use this card ?
Are the performances good ?

Thanks

Edit :

Sorry for being imprecise !
I'm talking about the type of card ! No that particular card !
By the way, I found the answer :

As a PCI-Express option card, it can be used to add scalable switched networking capabilities to any embedded system design with either "x8" or "x16" PCI-Express slots

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Best Answer

I cant tell what that part is by looking at it but answering the question on the router... The cheapest way is to buy four realtek-based NICs and put those in a box and gain very acceptable performance. A more costly and recommended option is to buy intel-based NICs. Desktop NICs do a very good job but server NICs may have some features that windows-users might have use for. The most expensive option is to buy one four-port server NIC.

Then there is another option, that is absolutely most flexible. One NIC, VLAN capable operating system and a VLAN capable ethernet switch. VLANs make my life so much easier and by using linux as router OS, I can do anything. I could, if I wanted, make every switch-port in my office show up as individual ethernet-devices, in their own isolated virtual LANs, in my router.

There are many options but the pricetag usually determines which option is suitable. I'd go for the one NIC and VLAN capable ethernet-switch, which can cost as much as one intel server NIC.

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